at 18:30 (JST), October 26

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20231026183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : taiwanese politically
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_34/

Chinese authorities have acknowledged they conducted tax and other inspections on local offices in China of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn.

This comes after the Chinese media outlet Global Times reported on Sunday that multiple offices of Hon Hai's subsidiaries across China had been subject to tax audits and land use investigations.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian told reporters on Wednesday that it is a normal law enforcement act for mainland authorities to conduct inspections in line with laws and regulations.

She added Taiwanese companies should assume their social responsibilities and play a positive role in promoting the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhu also criticized Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te, who plans to run for the presidential election in January next year as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate.

She said Lai has hidden Taiwan's independence agenda under the banner of peace, and Taiwan's independence means war and has nothing to do with peace.

Beijing's move came as Hon Hai's founder, Terry Gou, announced that he will run in the presidential election as an independent candidate. He is gathering the required number of signatures from eligible voters to be qualified.

Some observers say that if Gou runs, opposition votes could be split to the benefit of Lai.

Zhu's remarks indicate the investigations by Chinese authorities may be politically motivated.

Key words : north aircraft carrier
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_31/

North Korea has been silent on the US deployments of an aircraft carrier and a strategic bomber in South Korea this month. Some observers say Pyongyang may be focusing on its planned launch of a military reconnaissance satellite.

Earlier this month, the United States sent the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to a port in South Korea and landed a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber. It also conducted joint drills with South Korea and Japan.

North Korea reacted sharply to these moves, with its state-run news agency affirming that US strategic assets are its "first targets of destruction."

But unlike before, North Korea has not launched any ballistic missiles in response to these recent developments.

From September to October last year, when the Ronald Reagan sailed near the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang fired ballistic missiles seven times as a warning during a training exercise of its tactical nuclear operations unit.

The North also launched short-range ballistic missiles in response to the deployment of the US nuclear-powered flattop Nimitz in March.

It also set off short-range ballistic missiles each time a B-52 bomber landed in the South in December last year and when B-1 bombers arrived in February and August this year.

North Korea has announced plans for a third attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite this month, following its failed tries in May and August.

Some South Korean media outlets speculate that Pyongyang may be preoccupied with preparations for the upcoming satellite launch, potentially explaining the lack of response to the US.

Key words : taiwan completed canada
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_06/

Taiwan says it has completed negotiations with Canada over a bilateral foreign investment deal and welcomed the rapid conclusion of the talks.

Taiwan and Canada have no diplomatic relations, but their economic and trade relations have been growing. Each other's investments are increasing in areas related to semiconductors and renewable energy.

The two sides launched the negotiations for the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement in February. The deal is designed to protect businesses of both sides.

Taiwanese authorities made the announcement on Tuesday. They say the pact will prohibit setting new regulations for investments without advance agreement. It will also encourage investments by women, small businesses and indigenous peoples.

The authorities say Taiwan hopes the arrangement will be signed and enter into effect early.

Taiwan touts the pact as demonstrating that both Taiwan and Canada are able to meet the high-standard rules of the global economy.

Observers say Taiwan hopes to gain momentum from the deal for joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It expects support from Canada, which will chair CPTPP next year.

Canada released its Indo-Pacific strategy in November last year. It described China as "an increasingly disruptive global power," and placed importance to strengthen relations with Taiwan.

Key words : japan and china exchange
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_28/

Government officials and experts from Japan and China have exchanged views on bilateral relations to honor 45 years of peace and friendship between the two countries.

The Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship came into effect in October 1978.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government-affiliated think tank, hosted a symposium in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the anniversary.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo and the two countries' ambassadors were among the participants.

Academy President Gao Xiang described as dangerous the rhetoric likening a contingency on Taiwan to one on Japan. He said relations between China and Japan must not be influenced by small radical groups.

The Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao sent a video message in which he called the treated and diluted water released from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant "nuclear-contaminated water."

He urged Japan to resolve the matter appropriately with sincerity, and remove the obstacle to improving bilateral relations.

The Japanese Ambassador to China, Tarumi Hideo, said current bilateral relations cannot be described as ideal. He noted that both sides have lost sight of where they should stand due to confusion from facing a difficult challenge.

Tarumi referred to the words of ancient philosopher Confucius and other Chinese classics, with which the people of both countries are familiar.

He stressed the importance of learning from past wisdom and looking for ways to cooperate without losing one's independent approach.

The Japanese ambassador urged both sides to keep communicating based on strategic thinking, despite differences in their positions.

Key words : mitsubishi ended
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_17/

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors has officially decided to end its joint venture business with a Chinese manufacturer and pull out of China. The decision comes on the back of a rapid shift to electric vehicles in the world's top auto market.

Mitsubishi's board of directors made the final decision in a meeting on Tuesday.

Mitsubishi has run a factory in Hunan Province jointly with a local maker since 2012, but it suspended operations there in March. It now says it will end production and new car sales in China when the current inventory runs out.

Mitsubishi's lineup of mostly combustion engine vehicles has struggled in China, where electric and plug-in hybrid models are gaining traction.

The company has also been facing growing competition from local automakers.

The Japanese automaker says with this withdrawal the group is expected to post an extraordinary loss of about 24 billion yen, or over 160 million dollars, in the business year ending in March next year.

The company now plans to focus on the growing Southeast Asian market.

Other Japanese automakers that depend on gasoline models have also been hit by declining sales and are now reviewing their China strategies.

Key words : environment ministry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_35/

Japan's Environment Ministry says tritium in seawater off the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant remains below the detectable level.

The ministry on Wednesday released the results of its eighth weekly survey of water samples. It has been carrying out the surveys since Tokyo Electric Power Company started releasing treated and diluted water from the plant into the ocean on August 24.

In the latest survey, the ministry took samples from 11 points off Fukushima, Miyagi and Ibaraki prefectures on October 17 and 19. The locations include one near the outlet of the water discharge, and another about 70 kilometers away.

The ministry said analyses at a research lab found that the concentration of tritium was below the minimum detectable level of 10 becquerels per liter at all collection points.

In the previous seven surveys, the concentration of tritium was also below that level. The results of the first survey were released on August 27.

The ministry plans to keep monitoring tritium levels once a week for the time being and publish the results on its website and social media.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered a triple meltdown in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Water used to cool molten fuel there has been mixing with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is being treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.

Before releasing the treated water into the sea, the plant's operator dilutes it to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidance level for drinking water.

Key words : people across india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231025_37/

People across India have been celebrating Dussehra, one of the three major Hindu festivals. The event marks God's triumph over the devil.

More than 4,000 participants gathered in a venue in New Delhi on Tuesday. Actors dressed as Lord Rama and the demon Ravana performed a mythical battle.

Three effigies were set on fire to ward off evil. Firecrackers inside of the figures exploded, and they quickly burned to the ground.

One of participants said he prays all people can live together with peace and patience. He also said all countries should pray for harmony and peace.

The festival was a chance for people to pray for prosperity and good luck.